Jake Keough's NeilPryde Diablo

September 13, 2012

Massachusetts native Jake Keough rides for the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team and is one of the fastest sprinters in North America. While "The Killer" has some preferences in his set-up, his bike is largely built with standard equipment you can find in better bike shops. Here's a quick overview of his race-winning ride. —Daniel McMahon

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Keough rides a 51cm NeilPryde Diablo frameset. Though fairly new to the bike scene, the company is over 42 years old and well known for its water products: wetsuits, wind- and kite-surfing equipment, and stand-up paddle boards. The Diablo is considered the all-around racer in its four-bike lineup. The other models are the superlight (710 grams, claimed) Bura SL, the aero-road Alize, and tri-TT Bayamo.<br />
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<em>Related Video: <a href="http://www.bicycling.com/news/pro-cycling/ben-days-new-neilpryde-bayamo#... Day's New NeilPryde Bayamo</a></em><br />

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Of all the bikes at the 2012 USA Pro Challenge, Keough&rsquo;s had the most aggressive set-up. The drops of his handlebar are nearly even with the top of his front wheel, and whereas many riders prefer to have their bars titled up a little, Keough likes his drops to run parallel to the ground. &quot;It's all about getting the most aggressive, aero position possible,&quot; Keough told <em>Bicycling.</em> His mechanic, Jorge Romero, said Keough prefers Ritchey's aluminum bar and stem, which offer more security under heavy sprinting than the carbon options.<br />

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Sprinters like Keough produce tremendous power in short bursts. To help translate his strong kick into winning speed, Keough opts for Enve's Smart System 6.7 carbon rims (60mm in front, 70mm in rear). UnitedHealthcare's head mechanic told <em>Bicycling</em> that he has to raise the tension on Keough's wheels because he puts out so much power. Continental Competition tubular tires complete the package.<br />

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Keough won Stage 4 of the 2012 Tour of Utah, beating Marco Benfatto and Tyler Farrar in the field sprint after 134 miles of racing. It was the UnitedHealthcare sprinter's greatest career win to date. (Note how much lower the front end of Keough's bike is compared to all the other riders' bikes&mdash;and note the pop of color from the Chris King hubs.)<br />

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